Review on Riverside Exchange in Sheffield

Riverside Exchange, Coode is at the heart of Sheffields resurgent riverside. One fine day, planners hope that the stretch of the Don close to Riverside Exchange will be a lively commercial, leisure and retail quarter.

Were fortunate that the council has the vision to encourage developments such as Riverside Exchange, but theres still a long way to go  and could someone please remove that dumped bed end from the river in the meantime? The Thames is the lifeblood of Londons regenerated Docklands. In comparison, the River Don, on which Riverside Exchange has grown up, is a rather disappointing and scraggy waterway  given that it cant grow, it could certainly do with a bit more TLC!

On the plus side, Wilson Bowden, the developer of Riverside Exchange, has funded the creation of the Upper Don Walk. It has also worked with local archeologists to ensure that the areas industrial heritage is saved ­ the Marshall steel furnaces are incorporated into a courtyard within the Riverside Exchange development.

So, buying at Riverside Exchange is to some extent an investment in the future of an area on the up. Having said that, Riverside Exchange, Coode, due for completion in June 2005, will provide attractive apartments, and a convenient location close to the citys commercial centre, right from the word go.

Riverside Exchange, Coode is an 11-storey residential complex, identifiable by its gently curving, faintly nautical northern end. In contrast to neighbouring buildings, Riverside Exchange, Coodes brickwork is a sandy yellow colour. Many apartments have steel-and-glass balconies.

Out of 100 apartments at Riverside Exchange, Coode, 15 are currently still available off plan through Saxton Mee estate agents. There is a single one-bedroom apartment within this selection, priced at £104,995. Fourteen two-bedroom apartments are available at Riverside Exchange, Coode, all but one of them en-suite. Prices range from £152,500 to £167,500.

All apartments at Riverside Exchange, Coode will have air-conditioning installed. Kitchens include floor and wall units, oven, hob and extractor hood, but no other appliances. Bathrooms have ceramic tiles on floors and walls and come with bath, toilet and basin. En-suites have showers. Chrome electric towel rails are fitted as standard. The hallway, living and kitchen floors are all laminated, while bedrooms are carpeted. Internal doors have a beech-veneer finish and brushed stainless steel handles.

A parking space will set you back an additional £15,000. An alternative is to lease a space at the car park situated right next door to Riverside Exchange, Coode, starting from around £1,200 a year.

Coode is the final element of Wilson Bowdens Riverside Exchange development. Situated close to West Bars Law Courts, Riverside Exchange is already a hub for legal, financial and government services. The converted Exchange Brewery buildings have been taken over by the Home Office and Irwin Mitchell solicitors have a large new-build office block within the Riverside Exchange development.

Most buyers are likely to be professionals attracted by the convenience of the location for work. Of the recent city living developments, Riverside Exchange, Coode has more family-appeal than those situated in the busy centre. A handful of families have already bought here, though with a maximum of two bedrooms these flats are clearly not suited to larger broods!

Riverside Exchange, Coode falls within the catchment area of Byron Wood Primary School and Fir Vale School is the local secondary. League-table scores are low, though Ofsted has praise for the teaching and leadership of both. Most pupils at these schools come from deprived backgrounds.

With regard to crime, the whole city centre area has higher than average crime rates for Sheffield, especially for phone theft. Some areas adjacent to Riverside Exchange are particularly quiet at night. Sensible precautions should be taken when walking alone after dusk.

The councils main contribution to the regeneration of the district around Riverside Exchange is to build a new section of the inner relief road. This will divert traffic away from the area. As a result the Riverside Exchange development will also feel less of an island as it becomes naturally reconnected to the rest of the business centre.

Although not right in the heart of the city, Riverside Exchange, Coode is within walking distance of the shops, bars, restaurants and transport links of central Sheffield. There is fairly easy access to trams (on the High Street) and the bus station. Riverside Exchange, Coode is also convenient for the M1.

When it gets the planned new shops, cafes and bars, the Don riverside area itself should acquire a more welcoming feel. According to council proposals a newly pedestrian-friendly Nursery Street, on the opposite bank to Riverside Exchange, will feature a terrace and become a pleasant place for a stroll. Over a cappuccino at a riverside café, you may be able to look back across the water at your Riverside Exchange, Coode apartment. A satisfying vision of the future, but you will have to wait a while for reality to have a chance of catching up.